ISWEC: a Gyroscopic Wave Energy Converter

ISWEC (Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter) is a Wave Energy Converter transforming the wave-induced rocking motion of a buoy into electrical power by means of the gyroscopic effects produced from a spinning flywheel carried inside the buoy. A unique feature of ISWEC with respect to most of the existing converters is that externally it is composed only of a floating body without moving parts working into sea water or spray, thus achieving a high reliability and reduced maintenance costs. In this Thesis the analysis of the ISWEC both on the numerical and the experimental levels is performed. The converter dynamics is analyzed in order to obtain a mathematical model and experimental tests are carried out in the wave tank of the University of Edinburgh on a 1:45 model to validate such mathematical model. The validated models are used to design a larger scale prototype (1:8) and to make considerations on the design of a full scale ISWEC system.